Just turned 40... Hair system wearer

[Electric Rider]

Welcome Marley 29.

Yes, it's a plunge. But then, so is everything new that you do. Don't sweat it. If you don't like it you can always go back to what your doing now.

 I say, Just Do It. Liberate yourself. No need to spend extra money and time going smaller to mimic hair loss. Your going to get the same reactions from people if you do it now or then - but then, they might feel sorry for you because you "lost your hair so badly". That would be a worse situation IMO. Just shave it, hold your head up high and walk in to work with confidence. Sure you may get some negative comments but people will get used to it and you'll be amazed at all the people who will love it.

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum Marley!

Believe me.... EVERYONE knows you're wearing that "system". The only person that "system" fools, is the guy wearing it. They fool you into thinking you look good with the "system"... so you keep paying for it.

Those that matter in your life will applaud you for finally taking that raccoon off your head and being yourself.

A guy down the hall from me at work wore a "system" for years.... and a LOT of people made fun of him behind his back..... he ditched the "system" over a week vacation a few years ago and his head is nice and shaved since then. I've never once heard anyone make fun of him since he ditched the "system".

[Ozz2012]

Hi...I've been a "lurker" here for a few months...and this is my first post...I'll post an introduction when I get a chance.

Here's my take on it..(and it's only an opinion)

Just do it.  Going to smaller and smaller hair pieces sounds like it would be pretty expensive and would look kind of silly. 

I agree with several of the others here that say it's pretty likely that at least some of the people already know your "secret".

And when you do shave it...trust me...you're going to get a lot of comments/questions/wisecracks/etc....for a few days.

After that (and I figured this out first hand when I impulsively went from fairly long hair to my current #000000 (.1mm) clipper cut)...people will forget all about you, because...(are you paying attention...this is the important part)...they have their own problems and lives to deal with.  And in the end...your newly bald head isn't really that important in the grand scheme of things.

Trust me...when I decided to go for it (wanted to do something drastically different for the new year)...I was terrified my first day back to work.  And because of the nature of my job....it lasted a little longer than normal (most people were on vacation when I did it)..

And I did put up with lots of comments and silly questions...etc...but once they see it and say their thing...they get used to it and move on.

So relax, shave your head...put up with the BS for a few days...and then prepare to enjoy a freedom and convenience that you haven't experienced before.  (And buy yourself something cool with all that extra $$)

Good luck!

[Sir Harry]

Welcome...As a guy who's only a couple of months younger than you(yes the big four-oh is creeping on me too), believe me going sly four years ago gave me more confidence than any system/combover could give me. The posts ahead of mine say it all. Good luck!

[IllinoisBaldy]

Welcome to SBG marley29.

[Natedawg]

Welcome, marley! I'm going to echo the others here (because it's true) and tell you to just go for it. Take the plunge. You're a man in your 40s now, amigo. You're too far in life to be afraid of something as superficial as hair on your head. You will never know unless you try.
If you have to go through a transitioning phase to get there, that's of course fine. You being comfortable with it is very important. Although..., I will say there's nothing quite like the feeling of casting doubt aside and freeing yourself from restraint.
There's no good reason in your scenario that you shouldn't give it a go, right? 

[Arnie]

Welcome to SBGs!!!

[wpruitt]

Welcome Marley ... Ditch the rug!

[Ming the Merciless]

Off!  Off!

A month from now folks will only vaguely recall how you looked when you had "hair."  The Sly you will be the new you.

"You look different."

"Oh, really?  Thank you."  And move on.

[Chiboxer]

I will agree with everything everyone else said. I am newly sly an must say the freedom of the tyranny or my hair (or lack thereof) is wonderful. Most of my coworkers had one thing to say:  dude, you should have been done that a long time ago!

[Natedawg]

Most of my coworkers had one thing to say:  dude, you should have been done that a long time ago!

That's the reaction I got when I first did it. That was when I knew it was my look for life.

Keep up the good work! Suits you well. 

[buddha]

One day I had hair down to my shoulder blades, the very next day my head was clean shaven. A woman that I had known for a couple of years and I saw on a daily basis saw me after I shaved my head and said "you look different, did you lose weight?" She was a hair stylist by profession.
So much for people noticing!
I know this seems like a big step and, in view of the fact that you've been using a hair system, it may be much bigger for you than it was for me. But it's your head and your hair (or lack thereof) and that means it's your business. Everybody is going to have an opinion about it and they will probably all express themselves. But as you're a dues paying adult you owe neither explanations nor apologies. You also don't need to ask permission.
Like the old saying "those who mind don't matter, those who matter don't mind", people who needle you about this choice were undoubtedly looking to needle someone about something anyway. That says more about them than it says about you and your hair.
I say go for it. After all it's just a haircut that's going to save you I don't know how many thousands of dollars a year over the "hair system" (that phrase still makes me chuckle). The people who market and sell this crap are no more than vultures preying upon human fear and insecurity. We are all subject to this BS in one area of our lives or another but why spend thousands a year on something that covers up who you really are when for the cost of a $10 razor you can bring a shine to the world. And thumb your nose at these insolent swine every time you walk past their headquarters.

[SlyBaldDude]

Wow .. I had no idea hair systems came with contracts!  I never felt free'er than when I decided to go BBC.  I can't even remember what having hair is like.  It was very liberating for me .. I think you will find the same with out a doubt!